The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-26
STARTLING EXPERIENCE.
AN EARLY MORNING ENCOUNTER
WHICH CHILLs THE BLOOD.
a Poor Negro Stranger Set Upon by
Highwaymen and Robbed of His
Money and Clothing-Not the First
Incident of that Character.

A stalwart man, whose black form could
scarcely be discerned in the darkness,
standing meath dripping street shed,
naked as when he came into the world,
shiycring in the beating rain, which was
fast chilling the life blood OF his muscular
ffame, was the narrowing spectacle which
confronted q gentleman on his way home
at o'clock yesterday morning. 1t was
near the junction of Manassas and Dunlap
Streets, as he hurried on to his comiorta-
bic home, that the gentleman, whose
duties keep him at his office until the late
hours of the early morning, almost ran
q against two men, They were both ne
groos. One was well clothed, the other as
naked rs when he came into the world.
The passcr-by was startled at the sight,
and stopped squarcly in front OF the men.
AS he did so the clothed man said: I'll
you please, boss, what can we do with this
poor man, and before he could be asked
what on earth they were doing there con-
tinucd, saying "Pm driver OF dIay,
and, coming along here Just now, ! saw
this poor fellow standing up here, naked
and freezing. He's almost past talking
now, he's so cold. See how lac shvers."
On further inquiry the speaker told the
gentleman that the stripped man had told
him that he was a stranger, and had come
to the city the day before. lie had no
money nor anywhere 10 go, but, by per-
sistently trying, had managed before night
fall TO get a few hours work. for which he
haf been given 30 cents. lie purchased
n mouthlul TO eat, and, fearful that he
would not be able 10 find work on the
morrow, thought TO hold on to the balance
ofhis wealth, and would not seek n lodg-
ing, but walk the streets, that he might be
able 10 buy breakfast. Not knowing one
street from the other he had wandered
aimlessly around. Not lar from where he
was, though he could not give the loca-
ton, hut about . o'clock, lac was bounced
upon by several highwaymcn, who, after
taking the few cents from his pocket, went
TO work and stripped him OF every gar
ment on his person The pitilcss wretchcs
then ran away. Recovering from the eff
fccts OF the desperate but vain struggle he
had made against his despOilers. hc rose TO
90, but, 90 where? He knew not A
stranger, not knowing one street from the
other, fricndlcss and naked in the dark
ness, covered only by the blackencd hcav-
ems, which were mercilessly pouring their
icy water upon his unclad body, hc walked
hither and thiiher, until, exhausted and
freezing, he stopped there, as he supposed,
10 die
The gentleman was touched with pity at
the novel but shocking sight. But what
to do IN the emergency he knew not. lie
could not reach q telephone, a policeman
was nowhere in sight The man was ircez-
ing to death; but something must be done,
and that quickly. So, telling the negroes
81 stay where they were, he went on q
brisk run through the rain and mud to
his huusc, several squares away, and rush
ing in hurricdly, he disturbed all the
happy slccpcrs. When his wife saw him,
by the family upturncd gas, snatching
several articles Of clothing from well
filled wardrobe, she almost sprang 10 the
floor M she cried out: "What do YOU
meant" lie informed her rs he bounded
out OF the room with the clothing under
his arm. /, took the good Samaritan but
few minutes 30 reach the shocking scene
he had 80 hurriedly left, and, handing the
clothing TO the faithful friend Of the help
less sufferer, told him Ia put them ON him.
They lacked a good deal OF being large
enough. but the thanks he received
through the gathering Of the numbed man
M he squeezed himself into their warm
folds was more than compensation for their
worth and the owners trouble. Shoes and
hat wcrr wanting, but thus clad his COM
panion WIS directed 10 take him 10 the
police station, where he could be- sheltered
Tor the night. The poor negro was scarcely
able TO walk, 80 chilled and benumbed was
he, but up the street lac trudged in his
bare feet With his friendly guide.
Inquiry nj the police station showed that
the negro was not taken there. Most
probably he was not equal 10 the long
walk in his pitiable state, and was taken
into other quarters. The negro who had
~ kindly protected the iriendless man told
the gentleman who had 80 generously
come 20 his rescue that some weeks ago,
while driving along in that vicinity about
the same hour In the morning, he saw aud
assisted white man who was in the same
condition M the present one. The white
man told the negro that he had been set
upon and robbed Of his money and cloth
Tag With this state OF affairs in that
ncighborhood, Il docs seem that Il would
be n good field for yigilant police opera
tons fooipads generally resort 30 almost
npv brutality but that of gtrippup their